Flexible container support



Nov. 23, 1954 B. STAHMER F'LEXIBLE CONTAINER SUPPORT Filed June 19. 1952 United States Patent 'O FLEXIBLE CONTAINER .SUB-PORT 'Bernhardt -Stahmer maha, Nebr.

Application .June .19, 1952,1Seria`l No. 294,412

4 Claims. (Cl. 229-55) This invention relates to containers and more particularly it is an object of this invention to provide a container for a flexible bag.

Flexible bags made of plastic and the like have been used in the packaging of pickles and can be used for containing liquids of many kinds, including milk and beverages.

It is an object of this invention to provide a holder for a flexible container, the holder having a flat bottom whereby it can be stood upright so that the top of the bag can be opened without spilling the contents.

A further object is to provide a fiexible bag holder having the upper corner cut on the bias to expose a corner of a bag for the pouring of liquid from the bag.

Another object is to provide a flexible bag holder which can be economically made from a single sheet of flat cardboard or like material by folding.

A further object is to provide a bag holder as described which is adapted to receive staples or other fasteners for holding the edge of the bag thereto.

Yet a further object is to provide a holder, the upper portion of which is separated from a lower portion thereof by a line of indentations for facilitating the tearing off of the upper portion of the holder to expose the top of the bag.

Yet another object is to provide a method of manufacturing a holder as described which includes placing Vertical indentations at desired points on a piece of flat material for facilitating the bending of the material into a shape best suited for receiving a container bag.

Another object is to provide a bag holder having the described indentations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bag and a bag support or holder in combination as above described.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose described which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eficient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble and utilize.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and claims, the scope of the invention not being limited to the drawings themselves as the drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating a way in which the principles of this invention can be applied.

Other embodiments of the invention utilizing the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present inventio and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a frontal elevation of the bag and bag holder of this invention shown in upright position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the bag and holder as seen in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the manner in which staples are used to connect the bag and bag holder together.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a flat piece of material having a V-shaped cut out portion and lines indicating indentations for folding and for tearing off of the top.

The bag support or bag holder of this invention is generally indicated at in Figure 1 and is formed of a piece of bendable flat material of sufiicient rigidity 'ice to vhold vits shape. Cardboard or other :similar material is suitable. y

AThe bag .holder ,10 `is provided wlit'h .a straight ;lower edge .12 .where'by 'it .'is .adapted rto stand upright.

The holder 10 is 'formed of a piece of .flat material shown 'in ,Eigure '4 .at 10. .The piece .of .material .10 in 'Figure 41s of .substantiallyrectangular Shape having a -.V-shape .cut-out ;portion Aon its .upper vside ;for ;providing :two ,edges .14 which ;incline .downwardly toward an apex 16 for prov'iding the holder with a beveled corner when Vit ,is folded 'along a center indented fold line 18, best seen 'in Figure 4.

While the material is in flat position as seen in Figure 4 it is further provided with indentation lines 20 and 22 disposed spaced slightly inwardly from the sides thereof and disposed parallel to the respective side edges of the piece of material 10.

The material 10 is further provided with two other indentation lines 24 and 26 disposed spaced slightly away from each side respectively of the center fold indentation line 18 above mentioned, and disposed in parallelism with the center line 18.

The piece of material 10 is further provided with an upper transverse indentation line 30 which latter is spaced downwardly from the upper edge 32 of the material 10 and preferably passes through the apex 16 of the cut-out portion bounded by the edges 14 above mentioned.

As thus described, when the material at 10 in Figure 4 is folded into the container 10 of Figure l a complete fold is made along the line 18 as seen in Figure 2 and other folds are made along the lines 24 and 26 whereby the container is caused to assume a somewhat elliptical Shape with rounded convex sides 36 and 38 extending to a parallel terminal edge portion 40 and 42 which latter are stapled together by staples with one upright sealed edge portion 58 of a flexible container bag generally indicated at 60 disposed therebetween as best seen in Figure 2.

Those portions of the support member 10 which are disposed in parallelism with each other adjacent the center fold line 18 are stapled together about the opposite upright sealed edge of the bag 60 and by means of staples whereby the bag is securely upheld by the support or holder 10.

The bag 60 and its support 10 can be delivered to the Consumer in the Shape shown in Figures 1 and 2. The consumer can open that portion of the bag 60 which protrudes outwardly beyond the cut-out beveled portion of the support and the Consumer, if he chooses, can rip off the upper portion of the support 10 along the indentation line 30 completely exposing the entire upper edge of the bag 60 if he chooses to open the entire upper side of the bag 60.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a fiexible container support constructed in accordanee with my invention is particularly well adapted for use, by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, eXcept as claimed.

I claim:

l. In combination: a support piece of bendable flat material of suflicient rigidity to hold its shape, said piece having a straight lower edge for standing upright, said piece being folded upon itself in its center at a right angle to said straight lower edge to form two opposing side portions of said piece having a common folded edge and terminal edges on the other side of said side portions from said folded edge; a normally closed fiexible container having two side portions joined together along sealed upright edges, said container being disposed between the side portions of said support piece, one of the sealed edge portions of said container being disposed adjacent the common folded edge of said support piece side portions, the other of said sealed edge portions being disposed between the terminal edges of said support piece side portions; securing members each extending through the side portions of said support piece and through said sealed container edges to fasten said container to said support.

2. The combination described in claim 1l in which said side portions of said support each have a beveled upper corner adjacent said common folded edge for access to said container.

- 3. The combination described in claim 1 in which said side portions of said support each have a line of indentations thereacross and spaced downwardly from the top of said container for exposing the top of said container.

' 4. The 'combination described in claim 1 in which 15 said side portions of said support piece each have upright lines of spaced apart indentations spaced inwardly from" the upright edges therefrom for facilitating the bending of said side portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

